Since we last visited Haley’s Circus, Boston Brand is now in charge, and he and Dick are friends. As the circus is in town again, Dick performs an act with Boston, but Boston is shot. Instead of entering the afterlife however Deadman is a ghost trying to help Batman, Robin, and Nightwing solve his murder. Only by learning he can possess people does he managed to save Batman and expose the killer, who was “applying” for the League Of Assassins. Deadman then stopped the killer from committing suicide, the price for failing the League by getting caught, and then his soul goes to rest. Or was it the last fantasy of a dead man?

What they got right: I suppose it was inevitable that DCAU Deadman would have to actually die, although I can’t remember if later DCAU stories would tell the story themselves. It is a well told story. The opening where Deadman addresses the “audience” before it goes into the story fits with his character and is a nice visual. The circus poster is taken from the Batman & Robin Adventures issue Boston last appeared in, which was a good choice. Even the cover has a neat way of promoting the story inside.

What they got wrong: So does this mean Deadman is now gone from the DCAU and won’t show up again? His whole thing is that he’s still here to find his killer, and he does it here.